UPDATED: Just About Everybody Wants Common Standards

Forty-six states have signed onto the National Governors Association/Council of Chief State School Officers effort to pursue common academic standards, Michele reports today.

Of the four states not on the list, two have Republican governors who are widely rumored to be mulling a 2012 presidential run: Alaska (Gov. Sarah Palin) and South Carolina (Gov. Mark Sanford) aka Gov. Take-This-Stimulus-Check-And-Shove-It. That's interesting because, generally speaking, the state-led common standards movement has largely gained bipartisan support. In fact, South Carolina schools chief, Jim Rex, a Democrat, signed onto the compact. But since Sanford said no, the state can't be counted among the 46 signing on. Folks over at the state's Department of Education are bummed out about that, Michele said.

UPDATE: Gov. Palin has issued a press release on Alaska's non-participation, saying they will "monitor" the situation. “If this initiative produces useful results, Alaska will remain free to incorporate them in our own standards.”